Quote:
Originally Posted by Retlaw
I see your spy has alerted you to the thread.
Do you mean the attached piece of toilet paper.
Everyone keeps on about the Coppice and this clown is on Moleside. Which is it going to be.
Firstly the weather was bad in January 1915.
The pals had just been kitted out with their new uniforms and equipment.
Two or three companies, there are 250 men to a company, so he talking in excess of 500 men.
Another load of bull, their not going to be allowed to ruin new uniforms, and where did all the picks and shovels come from, even Bridges Ironmongers would'nt have enough stock, nor would Harwood have the cash to buy them. Another thing, apart from A & B companies C & D companies had never met, nor had all the companies ever trained together. Also recruiting was still taking place for E Company.
Then the so called reporter goes on about men in training at Southport not having rifles, he's doing a lot of flitting about, First he's on about Moleside (whats he doing up there) next he's interviewing a man stationed in Southport.
I suppose all this twaddle sells newspapers, and the old reporters motto never let the truth stand in the way of a good story.
Reads like one of Ainsworth's fictonal tales.
I don't believe in the tale that the moon is made of green cheese, do you.
Father Christmas is a myth as well.
Another of your clangers Tom Catterall never had the number 65599 that is crossed out, do your job properly.
Retlaw.
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Not sure who the mythical spy is meant to be, but I can find my own way to the Heritage and History section once in a while.
Let's go along for a moment with the notion that the Gazette reporter imagined seeing the Pals digging trenches. Here's Bill Turner writing in 'Accrington Pals Trail' about the Coppice (page 144): "The flat top of the hill was the scene, in 1914 and 1915, of Company manoeuvres. Evidence of trench digging still remains."
Alphaeus Casey's diary - he was with the Sheffield City Battalion - mentions trench digging in January 1915, but maybe the weather was better in Yorkshire.
Sheffield City Battalion | Alphaeus Casey's Diary | January 1915
Thanks for the note on Tom Catterall but the Medal Rolls don't agree with you. I guess the number 65599 on his service record was crossed out when he moved to the West Riding Regt. and was allocated a fresh number.
Kind regards, Andrew